Sub: Suggestions on the proposal to bifurcate the state of Andhra Pradesh

The proposed
bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh has evoked strong protests from the people of
Coastal and Rayalaseema regions. No state reorganization has resulted in so
much of popular protest since the partition of Bengal by the British. Centre,
just like the British in the case of Bengal partition, has
largely ignored the apprehensions of the people of Coastal and Rayalaseema
regions.

If the Centre
continues to ignore people’s protests and persists with its decision, then I
suggest it should take the following steps before initiating the bifurcation
process.

The proposed bifurcation results in formation of two states. Centre should
announce that two new states are being formed by dissolving the old state of
Andhra Pradesh. While one of the new states is called Telangana, the other
should be called with a new name like “Seemandhra” or any other appropriate name as accepted by the
people of that state. The suggestions provided in this document pertain to the
Seemandhra state except wherever specified.

Since putting off the December 9, 2009 decision on
state bifurcation, a viral campaign has been launched by some groups of
Telangana region, vitiating the harmonious atmosphere in the state. The
cornerstone of the campaign has been to create hatred amongst the people of
Telangana against their brothers of other regions. Constructive steps should
be taken to clear the air before bifurcation. Some are suggested here:

Issue

Suggested Action

Reason for state bifurcation: There is no clarity as to why the
state is being bifurcated.

Rationale: Centre should make public, the reasons for bifurcating
the state. People of Coastal and Rayalaseema regions consider that there is
no rationale behind the bifurcation. If Centre reveals the reasons, the
bifurcation might be more acceptable.

Development disparity: Leaders of Telanagana regions have
been complaining about development disparity for separate state demand. This
has been refuted by the people of other two regions. This issue needs to be clarified
by the Government.

White paper: State government should release a white paper on the
present status of the three regions - economic, human development, cultural,
education etc. A district-wise summary report will make things clearer to the
people to understand the rationale behind the bifurcation.

Post bifurcation, Coastal and Rayalaseema regions will
be thrown back into the past in terms of per capita income, growth
opportunities, state income etc.

Post-bifurcation scenario: The state Government should bring out
a report on what would be the status of the two states immediately after the
bifurcation - GDP, per capita income, employment and education opportunities
etc. This way people can better understand the immediate after effects of the
bifurcation.

Long term effect of the bifurcation: The reorganization of the state
should be fruitful to the people of all regions. People of Coastal and
Rayalaseema regions fear that the bifurcation will adversely affect them.
Their fears should be allayed.

Future vision: Centre should release a detailed forecast on what and
how the it is planning to achieve with respect to the development of the two
states in the immediate two or three decades after the bifurcation – how the
bifurcation will help all the three regions.

Centre should address the following issues before
starting the process to ensure that the disproportionate distribution of
wealth due to bifurcation between the two states can be corrected. This way the
loss of Coastal and Rayalseema regions can be reduced.

Issue

Suggested Action

Hyderabad: Hyderabad is not just a capital city but a development
hub for the entire Andhra Pradesh. The Development explosion that Hyderabad had
witnessed in the recent past has been achieved at the cost of the development
in the three regions of the State. At present these regions are many times
more dependent on Hyderabad than they were in 1972 for employment
opportunities, business opportunities etc.

1.Distribute the revenue of Greater Hyderabad area between the two states for
a definite period of time, say 15 years. The share of Coastal and Rayalaseema
regions can be progressively reduced.

2. The employment and education opportunities, presently available for each
region at present, should continue for the same period.

Water sharing: The three regions share the most important water
resources - rivers Krishna and Godavari. Water sharing issues can cripple the
relations between the new states besides putting the Centre at an unenviable position
of resolving another perennial problem like Kaveri water sharing issue.

Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam on River Krishna: A well defined water sharing pact
should be put in place. The administrative and operational control of the
dams should be vested with Seemanadhra state.

Polavaram project: Polavaram project on River Godavari should be
constructed as a national project.

Infrastructure development: A detailed plan should be announced
by the centre on the infrastructure development in the new state -Seemandhra.
Care should be taken to distribute the development through the state instead
of focusing at one location. Special Tax Incentives should be announced for
industries. Centre should initiate core infrastructural projects in the
Seemandhra state like power, transportation etc.

Promises should be kept: There are apprehensions that the
promises given at the time of bifurcation will be ignored in future. There
are enough precedents to prove this point.

Constitutional guarantees: Centre should provide constitutional
guarantees for all the promises that are being made to the new states. The
funds, the infrastructure, water sharing accords etc should all be covered in
these guarantees.

I hope Centre will take steps to meet the aspirations of the
people of all regions, true to the spirit of democracy.